Norway played their international friendly at Ullevaal Stadion with a strong home advantage side as they won 3-1 against Sweden. This game was part of the crucial training for both teams prior to FIFA World Cup. The first half began with plenty of pace and soon Norway controlled possession and attacking play. They forced their way forward and succeeded in getting a head start in the early stages, with constant pressure on in the last third. Jorgen Strand Larsen was the star for Norway.
He was impressively attacking with two tries and his quick passing and finishing skills. In the first half, the hosts took a heavy hit with Antonio Nusa adding yet another strike between goals to put them ahead. It was hard for the Swedes to keep pace with the Norwegians at the beginning. They were not in a good defensive shape and struggled with their building attacking transitions.
But a slight improvement came in the second half. Alexander Isak got a consolation goal for Sweden. It was during a short period of time when Sweden was more ambitious. Even with the goal, they couldn’t change the overall flow of the game. Tactically, Norway appeared to be more ready and a sharper team in combination play.
It was a more harmonious attacking unit that showed better chem, while Sweden should concentrate on making defensive adjustments before their next games. This is important in the lead-up to the World Cup for friendlies. The result will be a confidence boost for Norway and the gaps in defence will be something for Sweden to study prior to the tournament.
